deˌvaluˈation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Business/Finance
Quick answer
What does “deˌvaluˈation” mean?
A reduction in the official value of a country's currency relative to other currencies.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A reduction in the official value of a country's currency relative to other currencies.
The act of reducing the worth or importance of something or someone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference; the concept is identical in both varieties. The related verb is spelled 'devalue' in both.
Connotations
Overwhelmingly negative in both contexts, implying loss, weakness, or failure.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK media due to historical association with post-war economic policy and the 1967 Sterling devaluation.
Grammar
How to Use “deˌvaluˈation” in a Sentence
devaluation of [CURRENCY/ASSET]devaluation by [PERCENTAGE/AMOUNT][VERB: lead to/cause/trigger] a devaluationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “deˌvaluˈation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The chancellor may be forced to devalue the pound.
- He didn't want to devalue his own academic achievements.
American English
- The Fed will not devalue the dollar to gain a trade advantage.
- She felt his comments devalued her contribution to the project.
adverb
British English
- [Rarely used] The currency was devaluatively managed.
American English
- [Rarely used] Policies were seen as acting devaluatively on the currency.
adjective
British English
- The devaluatory measures were highly controversial.
- They faced devaluationary pressures.
American English
- The devaluative impact on savings was severe.
- The country entered a devaluationary spiral.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The government faced pressure to engineer a competitive devaluation to boost exports.
Academic
The paper analyses the long-term inflationary effects of currency devaluation in emerging markets.
Everyday
His constant criticism felt like a devaluation of all her hard work.
Technical
The central bank intervened to prevent a disorderly devaluation of the currency peg.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “deˌvaluˈation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “deˌvaluˈation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “deˌvaluˈation”
- Misspelling as 'devalutation' or 'devaluasion'.
- Confusing 'devaluation' (official act) with 'depreciation' (market-driven decline).
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'They devaluation the currency'; correct: 'They devalued the currency').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Devaluation is a deliberate downward adjustment of a currency's value by a government or central bank (under a fixed exchange rate system). Depreciation is a decline in a currency's value due to market forces (under a floating exchange rate system). In everyday use, they are often used interchangeably.
Yes, metaphorically. You can talk about the 'devaluation of a degree' if it becomes too common, or the 'devaluation of trust' in a relationship, meaning its perceived worth has been reduced.
The direct opposite is 'revaluation' — an official increase in the value of a currency relative to others.
It has mixed effects. It can help exporters and reduce trade deficits but makes imports more expensive, can cause inflation, and reduces the international purchasing power of citizens. It is generally seen as a sign of economic weakness.
A reduction in the official value of a country's currency relative to other currencies.
Deˌvaluˈation is usually formal, academic, business/finance in register.
Deˌvaluˈation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdiːvæljuˈeɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /diˌvæljuˈeɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly. Often part of phrases like 'a race to the bottom' or 'competitive devaluation']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE-VALUE-ATION. You are taking the VALUE (worth) DE- (down) through an -ATION (process).
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTH IS HEIGHT / STATUS IS MONEY. Devaluation is a metaphorical 'lowering' or 'making cheaper'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a competitive devaluation?